Curse of the Starving Class

See it if you want to see an unrelenting, 1st-rate revival of a work from Shepard's most fertile period that's as gritty, moving & timely as ever.

Don't see it if u seek pure escapism; u don't have the stomach for the relentless dysfunction of this family & the situation they represent in our society.

See it if Early Shepard (still finding his voice) is problematic yet not w/o its surrealistic beauty esp in fracturing family unit via outside forces

Don't see it if High octane 1st act both in writing & staging turns into stalled 2nd act As imploding famlly looses its chances for escape so does narrative

See it if you’d like to see a fine accounting of the play that sent Sam Shepard off in the new direction for which he is best known.

Don't see it if you do not like Sam Shepard’s writing, even at its most “naturalistic”.

Also Confession: I’ve always preferred early Shepard—1-act & bafflingly theatrical—to his middle period full-length plays that hold up the myth of the American male to scrutiny within a more-or-less naturalistic (if idiosyncratic) framework. For 1, I’ve always felt Shepard buys into that myth too deeply to effectively critique it. Still, I admire the middle plays & was privileged to see them all as they came out. Before attending Signature’s current “Curse of the Starving Class” I worried it wouldn’t age well. On the contrary: Though 20 minutes too long, it feels stronger than ever. I disagree with the Times reviewer who felt Act 2 fell apart. I found the temporary rehabilitation of Shepard’s eternally reprobate father figure to be funny, unexpected & revelatory, a chance for a fine actor to suture together polar opposite figures in a single role. The actors are strong & the staging dynamic even when the script plods. And of course, full havoc reclaims the stage before the revels are ended.... Read more Read less

See it if Dysfunctional family w/ property value& poverty nipping at their heels attempt to lift their lot to the next level.Massive prologue collapse

Don't see it if Bleak take on breaking through any ceilings. The curse=her first period. Bacon frying lingering. That poor lamb. Vulgarian behaviours.

Also "I'm not dreaming now. I was dreaming then."

See it if primal & explosive; searing portrait of dysfunctional family in the west ground down by rapacious capitalism/exploitation; hilarious at time

Don't see it if loud, unsubtle production; meanders at times; doesn't always achieve balance btwn realism/surrealism that characterizes Shepard at his best

Also (1) Starving: The sense of "starving" is employed in many ways in this play including the presence of an empty refrigerator that has almost totemic significance for the family and the family members' yearning to escape from their cycles of poverty and destructive behavior. (2) The Lamb: For those who are fans of symbolism, the maggot-filled lamb on stage appears to be more than an agricultural prop. In traditional literary terms, it is a stand in for Christ and as such its slaughter both indicts the characters in the play and serves as the basis for their salvation. Viewed in the context of the play, the lamb in captivity represents the plight of the rural family. (3) Trump (again): In talk-back it was confirmed that this late 1970s play was remounted, in part, because it speaks to our times where Trumpian forces, under the guise of helping the rural underclass, are manipulating and exploiting them.... Read more Read less

See it if bold, complicated characters excite you, or you’re tired of conventional shows. The brashness of this play will shake things up for you.

Don't see it if you like shows that play it safe. This production pulls no punches.

See it if you want to see a show-stealing performance by David Warshofsky. Also, if you have never seen a production of this Sam Shepard classic.

Don't see it if your taste runs from light comedies to musicals. This play is intense and edgy.

See it if You enjoy Sam Shepard. I really do think it’s that simple if you like sam you will like this show

Don't see it if You are looking for a fun and fluffy piece of theater. This is dirty. It’s all about a messed up and dysfunctional family

Also The first 45 seconds of this play are magnificent. I saw this done regionally years ago and what they did at the beginning of this play with the stage was breathtaking and it totally set the tone for what we were about to see over the next two hours and 30 minutes. As with most Sam Shepard plays the first act is a bit long but it sets the stage perfectly for the flawless and perfect second act... Read more Read less

See it if Nicely staged. Gilles Geary and David Warshofsky are terrific. Dad’s drunk scene is peerless. Sad and disturbing. And that lamb!

Don't see it if Raw Shepard disturbs you. Not as memorable as the recent “True West,” but incisive and entertaining. And that lamb!

See it if you like plays about American anxieties, told in bizarre and entertaining ways. Great acting and staging.

Don't see it if you're not a fan of Shepard's overly dramatic style, or don't like funny plays with serious undertones.

See it if You want to catch Maggie Siff . You haven't seen a pithier version.

Don't see it if You have seen a dense, well acted, meaningful production of this play.

See it if you like Sam Shepard's work; surrealistic stories about extremely dysfunctional families, pathos with dark humor, great monologues*

Don't see it if don't want the above or stories of delusional people who are exploited by greedy businessmen

Also *monologues that are poetic, disturbing, moving, especially by David Warshofsky as the father.
The ending was weak - too busy with several characters & contrived. But that was a relatively small part of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if enjoy the Sam Shepard canon then go see this. well acted.

Don't see it if no characters that one really cares about in a one-note play

See it if You are a fan of Sam Shepard’s Americana. Although the acting was well done, this play is quite dark.

Don't see it if You want to see something uplifting. This play is difficult to watch and the conclusion is unsettling.

See it if and ONLY if you are a fan of playwright Sam Shepard's writing.

Don't see it if you are able to get tickets for The Cradle Will Rock, High Button Shoes, or Dying City. Ironically you won't like any of those shows either.

Also I was so miserable, I left at intermission and missed the NAKED male actor flailing about in the second act. Trust me, the thought of a naked NAKED male actor flailing about , thought quite enticing, was just NOT enticing enough to sit through the second act of this play.... Read more Read less

See it if You appreciate the plays of Shepard. This one has great scenic design, a sheep in a cage, and urination on the stage.Quirky,with great cast

Don't see it if Unusual play that may not be for everyone. Shepard's plays are never dull or boring.

See it if Do you miss early Shepard plays? Food in the dialogue. Food on tables, counters, in the fridge. Food being eaten, thrown, on the floor.

Don't see it if You do not like messy drama, in words, and visuals. Nothing what it seems or as it should be. Or should it?

See it if You're a fan of Shepard or portrayals dysfunctional families or the rot of American idealism. Great staging and committed acting.

Don't see it if You can't stand symbolism or jagged plots. Some of the acting/monologues are uneven, and I'm not ultimately sure what the play wanted to say

See it if you want to see incredible acting or are a Sam Sheppard fan. The play is extremely intense. As a bonus there is a very cute live lamb in it.

Don't see it if dark family dramas upset you. As you can tell by the title it is not an uplifting play. There is also nudity if that bothers you.

See it if You enjoy great drama, laced with humor performed by an excellent cast. This is about a dysfunctional family trying to get ahead

Don't see it if You can't stand some really gross scenes

See it if are a fan of Sam Sheppard, want to see new interpretation of show, can appreciate symbolism in a show.

Don't see it if You want a "feel good" show, need a show wrapped up neatly, are not a fan of Sam Sheppard, want a fast paced show (this was NOT that show).

Also The beginning of the show has the biggest "Bang". I'm not necessarily a fan of Sam Sheppard. The show itself dragged a bit. I just wanted it to get to the end so I could see what happened. In this respect, I was a bit on the edge of my seat. And I was dissapointed at the end (no spoilers). The set was different and unexpected. And so was the sheep.... Read more Read less

See it if You Love Sam Shepard it’s funny and eloquently poetic at times

Don't see it if Uneven acting, Slow, it gets bogged down and loses the impact of the prose and tragedy

See it if you want to see an edgy, surrealistic drama that challenges convention, in an intimate setting and affordable price

Don't see it if you don't like to see plays that are pretty darn negative, or you want a feel-good night at the theater. This is challenging!

Also In the first few seconds, you are blown away. What seems to be something that can be salvaged, with a bit of paint and tender loving care is torn asunder, with no hope of redemption. Such are the lives of the Tates. The abusive alcoholic father, Weston (played magnificently by David Warshofsky). The mother who deflects painful reality, Ella (The amazing Maggie Siff), the sullen and angry son, Wesley (brooding and explosively portrayed by Giles Geary) and the rebellious daughter, Emma (the masterful Lizzy Declement), who just may be the one closest connected to sanity. That isn't saying much as Emma exclaims, "What kind of family is this???!!!" Love is a distant memory. Escape is the dream, except for Wesley who has none, and reality is just an impairment. The acting is top notch, first-rate and all such platitudes. The staging brilliant and the writing (Sam Shepard) intense. As always with the Signature ticket initiative, the price is just $35, which in this case is a steal!... Read more Read less

See it if 20 yrs after its debut, CotSC is still relevant as the scammers go after the unwary (again). Worth seeing for David Warshofsky's perf as dad

Don't see it if If you don't like Sam Shepard plays but are curious, then U could do much worse. If U abhor stage nudity then skip. Gross ref's to animals 2

See it if you want to see Sam Shepard's most autobiographical play in the wonderful Signature Theatre. The lamb is adorable. Everything else is ick.

Don't see it if you want to care about the characters -- some I hated and others didn't understand. It's full of sadness and anger from start to finish.